Downdraft diverter assembly



March 8, 1955 s. YARBROUGH 2,703,569

DOWNDRAFT DIVERTER ASSEMBLY Filed May 21, 1951 s Shets-Sheet 1 STAN TONL. VA RBROUGH,

IN V EN TOR.

HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

WORRE L 8 HERZ/G A TTORNEVS- BIZLJMMTW March 1955 s. L. YARBROUGHDOWNDRAFT DIVERTER ASSEMBLY s Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed May 21, 19.51

STANTON L. VARBROUGH,

INVEN TOR. HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

WORREL 8 HERZ/Gy By ATTORNEYS.

March 8, 1955 s. YARBROUGH DOWNDRAFT DIVERTER ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed May 21, 1951 H, mm.

OM RM MLAT L BR s w B United States Patent '0 DOWNDRAFT DIVERTERASSEMBLY Stanton L. Yarbrough, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to RheemManufacturing Company, Richmond, Califi, a corporation of CaliforniaApplication May 21, 1951, Serial No. 227,372

1 Claims. or. 126-307) This invention relates to downdraft diverterassemblies for heating apparatus, and will be described in conjunctionwith a household water heater.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simplified and neatappearing downdraft diverter assembly for household heating apparatussuch as a water heater.

Conventional practice has heretofore been to regard appearing and stillmeet the rigorous requirements of gas heating appliance codes.

In accordance with the instant invention, the upper portion of the waterheater is not only greatly simplified in structure, but is also vastlyimproved in appearance so that the water heater appears as a singleintegrated appliance instead of as a heater with an obtrusive bonnet inthe form of a separate draft diverting hood perched atop the heatertank.

Further objects of the instant invention will become apparent in theensuing specification.

' By way of illustration, three forms of the instant invention will bedescribed.

The first form is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 wherein: Fig. 1 isa perspective view of the upper portion of a water heater; Fig. 2 is alongitudinal cross-section showing the construction of the instantinvention and taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a top or planview of the Fig. 2 apparatus; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section takenon line 44 of Fig. 3.

The second form of the instant invention is illustrated in Figs. 5 and6, wherein: Fig. 5 is a plan view partially sectioned as shown by line5-5 of Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken on line 6-6 ofFig. 5'. A third form of the instant invention is illustrated in Figs.7, 8, and 9, wherein: Fig. 7 is a sectioned elevation taken on line 77of Fig. 8; Fig. 8 is a plan view taken on line 8-8 in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 isa view similar to Fig. 7, showing a modification of this form.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates the housing of a heatingappliance such as a gas water heater. housing 11 is capped by a topmember 12 characterized by a smoothly contoured, upwardly convexedsurface, broken only by an annular gap 13 (except for the essentialwater and flue pipes). Since the top surface of the member 12 issubstantially horizontal, the gap 13 lies essentially in a horizontalplane.

The smoothly contoured nature of the surface of the top member 12 can bebest seen in the sectional view, Fig. 2. As there seen, the top memberhas a central depression 14 leaving an annular ridge 16 around the upperouter periphery of the top member 12. A convex vent hood 17 is disposedover the central depression 14 and forms therewith a downdraft diverterchamber 18. The outer edge 19 of the vent hood 17 is spaced from the"ice of the-depression 14. The ridge 16 is thus constituted simply of anupwardly embossed annulus, the inner edge of which is secured as bywelding at 23 to the inner plate 22. The outer edge of the ridge16-curves smoothly downward and joins in a smooth contour with the topedge 24 of the outer wall of the housing 11. This form of constructionof the ridge 16 and inner plate 22 is subject to considerable variationas will be illustrated in the other species described hereinafter.

Welded to the inner plate 22 within the depression 14 are threeangularly spaced, upright, sheet-like supports 26. Securement of thesesupports to the plate 22 is effected by bending a flange 27 along thebottom of the supports, which is welded to the plate 22. Upon thesupports 26 rests the venthood 17 which is not otherwise secured to thesupports. Thisform of construction lends itself to ready packing forshipping, inasmuch as the vent hood 17 may be packed separately, andsimply placed upon the supports 26 during installation of the waterheater. The vent hood 17 is held in place laterally by the conventionalhot and cold water pipes 28 and 29, respectively, passing upwardly fromthe interior of the housing 11 through holes formed in the vent hood 17;and by the flue pipe 31 communicating with the top of the vent hood.

A central opening 32 is formed in the inner plate 22 and a centralopening 33 is formed in the vent'hood 17 through which openingscombustion gases pass to the line pipe 31.

Within the chamber 18, intermediate the openings 32 and 33, ispositioned a downdraft diverting baffle 34 formed with three radial arms36 which are welded to a short collar 37. The collar 37 may be packedseparately and is press-fitted into the opening 33 of the hood '17 uponinstallation of theheater. Besides supporting the battle 34, the collar37 serves to receive in a telescopic fit the flue pipe 31.

As best seen in Fig. 1, the structure of the instantinvention providesnot only a heater top of neat and com-.- pact appearance, but one whichis of utmost simplicity of construction with a minimum of structuralelements. The smoothly contoured appearance is further enhanced byexternal rubber grommets 38 placed around the pipes 28 and 29 where theypass through the vent hood 17. In order to confine the exit of fluegases through the plate 22 to the opening 32, rubber grommets 39 mayalso be placed around the pipes 28 and 29 where they pass through theinner plate 22.

The second form of the instant invention is shown in Figs. Sand 6. Thisform employs a still more simplified top member 12, in that the innerplate 22' is formed integral with the ridge portion 16', the depression14 in this case being literally impressed into the plate 22'. As in thefirst form, the hood 17 is supported by plate-like upright supports 26',the flanges 27 of which must be formed with a slight curvature in orderto accommodate them to the concave surface of the inner plate 22. Thefunctioning and external appearance of the second species issubstantially identical with that of the first. This second form is morereadily adaptable to a type of heater wherein the flue gases passthrough the housing 11' in a central, axial pipe 41; whereas the Fig.' 2form has been found desirable for that type of heater wherein the linegases pass upwardly around the outer periphery of the water tank 42. Ineach case, however, it will be noted that the escape of the flue gasesfrom the housing into the chamber 18 is effected by a central passagewaydirectly beneath the central opening in the vent hood, and that thispassageway constitutes the only exit of gases from the housing.

peak 21 of the ridge 16, thereby forming the gap 13,

mentioned above, which communicates between the chamber 18 and theatmosphere.

In the particular form shown, the housing 11 has an inner plate 22, thetop surface of which forms the floor A third form of the instantinvention is shown'in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, wherein double primed numeralsdenote elements corresponding to elements found in Fig.2.

As seen in Fig. 7, the inner plate 22 is depressed or concave, much inthe manner of the corresponding member of Fig. 6. The casing 11",however, terminates at its upper .edge angularly to form a sharplyangled ridge portion 16" as opposed to the more rounded forms shown inFigs. 2 and 6. The top portion of the ridge 16".is

horizontal so that the contoured hood 17" is simply a flat round platecentered over and spaced above the depression 14" formed by the topmember 22 and the circumjacent ridge 16". As in .the other forms, thetop member 22" has a central opening which communicates with the fluepipe 41"; and aligned with the central flue pipe 41" is a vent opening33" in the center of the'flat hood 17". As in the other forms the waterpipes 28" and 29" pass upwardly through the top member 22" and the hood17".

The hood 17 is supported by three legs 26" each having a flange 27" atits upper end which is welded to the under surface of the hood 17". Thebottom of each leg 26" rests on the curved surface of the top member 22spacing the hood 17"'-above the depression 14"".

A cone-like diverting baflie 34" is pendant from the hood 17" by threeradial arms 36" immediately under the vent opening 33".

It has been found advisable to secure a short cylindrical skirt-51 tothe under surface of the hood 17" to prevent diverted exhaust gasesfromescaping out the annular gap 13". This skirt maybe formed as a separatemember welded to the plate 17 as shown in Fig. 7, or may be formedintegral with the plate at the outer periphery thereof as shown at 51"in Fig. 9.

It will be seen that all three exemplary forms of the inventiondescribed above are characterized by the centrally depressed" top memberforming the annular ridge therearound, and the vent hood disposed overthe depression andshapedto form a smoothly continuing contour of theridge around the outer, upper periphery of the top member.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in whatis conceived to be the most practicaland preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom Within the scope of theinvention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosedherein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as toembrace anyand all equivalent apparatus and articles.

What is claimed is:

1. In an upright heating apparatus including a housing having a centralpassageway in the top thereof for the discharge of fluegases, thecombination of a top member-having'a central depression and an annularridge aroundxsaid depression, the outer edge of said ridgebeing-coterminous with and forming a smooth contour with the, top-edgeof said housing, a vent hood disposed above said-rdepressiom-theouteredge of said hoodbeing spaced inwardly from the top of said'ridge by anannular gap, the upper surface of said hoodadjacent said gap beingsubstantially aligned with the upper surface of said ridge, whereby saidhoodforms with said ridge a smoothly contoured' top' surface for saidhousing, said hood and said depression forming a downdraft diverterchamber communicating with atmosphere through said annular gap, saidtop: member having a central opening for the upward passage of fluegases from said housing, said hood havinga central opening-substantiallydirectly above the opening' in said top member, and-a downdraftdivertingbaffie disposed in said chamber betweent-he openingsnin said hood and insaid top member.

,2. Downdraft .diverter means for a heating apparatus, comprising. a topmember having a depression in the central portion thereof therebyleaving ananuulan. upwardly extending ridge around the edge of said topmembenaconvcx ventahood mounted over said top member, with the outeredge. thereof spaced inwardly from said ridge, and with the uppersurface of said hood adjacent said outer edge being substantiallyaligned with the-upper surface of said ridge, whereby said hood forms asmoothly contoured continuation of the outer and upper surface of saidridge and leaves an annular gap around saidhood between the outer edgethereof and the peak of said ridge, said hood and said top membertogether forming a downdraft diverter chamber, said hood having a. vent.opening in the center thereof. said top member havinga flue gasopeningbeneath: and substantially aligned with said vent opening topermit. passage of, combustion products into said diverter chamber, anda draft, diverting battle mounted within said chamber intermediate theopenings in said. top. member and. said. hood.

3.. Downdraft diverter means for heating apparatus, comprising a housingfor said apparatus, the top surface of said housing being constituted ofan upwardly convex, smoothly contoured sheet member joining the upperedge of the housing side walls in a smoothly contoured curve, the topregion within said housing constituting a downdraft diverting chamber,said sheet memher having an annular gap therein communicating with saidchamber and facing generally upward, that portion of said sheet memberwhich is surrounded by said gap constituting a hood, theupper surface ofsaidhood adjacent said gap being substantially aligned with the uppersurface of said top surface circumjacent saidgap, passage meanscommunicating between said housing and said chamber centrally of saidhousing, a central vent opening at the top of said hood adapted tocommunicate with a vent pipe, and a downdraft diverter bafile disposedcentrally within said chamber.

4. Vent means for heating apparatus, comprising a top member for saidheating apparatus having a central depression in the upper' surfacethereof forming an annular ridge portion around said top member, a venthood disposed over said depression withthe outer edge thereof spacedinwardly from said ridge portion, the uppersurface of said hood adjacentsaid outer edge being sub stantially aligned with the upper surface ofsai'dridge circurnjacentsaid gap, said hood thereby constituting asmoothly contoured continuation of the ridge portion of said top member,an annular gap being left betweenthe outer edge of said hood and thepeak of said ridge, saidtop member having an opening in the center ofsaid depression for the upward passage of flue gases, said vent hoodhaving a central opening aligned with that of said top member andadapted to communicate with a flue pipe, and a downdraft divertingbafile disposed between the openings in said top member and said venthood.

5. Vent means for a heating apparatus, comprising a casing having agenerally horizontal top plate, an annular upwardly extending ridgearound said top plate at the edge of said casing, a convex vent hoodmounted over said plate with the outer edge thereof spaced inwardly fromsaid ridge, the upper surface of said hood ad jacent said outer-edgebeing substantially aligned with the upper surface of said ridge, saidhood forming a smoothly contoured continuationof the outer and uppersurface of said ridge and leaving an annular gap around said-hoodbetween the edge thereof and the peak of said ridge, a vent opening inthe center ofsaid hood, a flue gas opening in said top plate to permitegress of combustion products from said casing, said flue gas openingbeing aligned with the vent opening of said hood, and a draft divertingbaffie mounted intermediate the openings in said top plate and saidhood.

6. Combustion apparatus comprising a generally upright casing, andcombustion gas passage means within said casing for passing combustiongases upwardly there in; said apparatus being characterized by a topcomprising: an annular member 'surmounting said casing, the outer edgeof said annular member substantially co inciding with the upper edge ofsaid casing; and a hood member mounted coaxially' with respect to saidannular member and spaced inwardly therefrom to form an annular gapfacing generally upward, the upper surface of said hood member adjacentsaid gap being substan' tiallyaligned witht-heupper surface of saidannular member adjacent said gap, whereby said hoodmemberforms, withsaid. annular member, a smoothly contoured top surface for theapparatus, said hood member having an opening therein through whichcombustion gases may flow from said .gas passage means and bedischarged.

7. Top-for combustion apparatus, comprising an annular member adapted tosurmount the apparatus, and a hood' member mounted coaxiallywith respectto said annularmember and spaced inwardly therefrom tov form an annulargap facing generally upward. said apparatus havingafiue gas passage fordelivering combustionwprodnets to the. underside of said hood member,the. upper surface of: said ,hood member adjacent said gap. beingsubstantiallwaligned with the upper surface of said annular memberadjacent said gap, whereby said hood member forms, with said annularmember.- a smoothly contoured. top surface for. the apparatus, said hoodmemher having an opening therein for venting combustion products.

(References on following page) 6 References Cited in the file of thispatent 2,385,450 Koppel Sept. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGNPATENTS 1,925,744 Berry Sept. 5, 1933 482,190 Great Britain Mar. 23,1938 2,031,314 Hunter Feb. 18, 1936 5 569,144 Great Bl 'itain May 7,1945

